Paramedics Salary
The median pay for a paramedics in South Dakota is $48,830/year ($23.48/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $58K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $54,322 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 28.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $49K get you in South Dakota?
About paramedics
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for paramedics in South Dakota runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $61K. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level paramedics (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $58K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Paramedics salary by metro in South Dakota
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $51K | +4% | 80 |
| Rapid City | $48K | -2% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track paramedics salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a paramedic afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 29.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for paramedics in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paramedics typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,857/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 55% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is paramedic a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $49K here vs. $61K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for paramedics?
South Dakota pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $61K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — below the national median.
How much do paramedics make in South Dakota?
The median is $48,830 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,950, and experienced paramedics can clear $58,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,440/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 29.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a paramedics salary go in South Dakota?
South Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 89.89 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median paramedics salary is worth about $54,322 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do paramedics get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.